Thought Leader Series
Margaret hired the neighborhood girl down the street to watch her children a couple days a week and run some simple errands for her. She never imagined that when she did that...
Five Risks Ultra-Wealthy Families Need To Watch Out For
In our work with ultra-wealthy families, we have seen that those families face some fairly unique risks that ordinary people or business would not typically...
How Uncertainty Impacts a Family Office
Recently, I was reflecting on how uncertainty impacts our lives. For instance, modern technology provided ample warning (aka “certainty”) to the East Coast...
LLC vs. Foundation: Which is the Better Option for Philanthropists?
In December 2015, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced he would transfer 99 percent of his Facebook shares—a sum currently valued at $45 billion—to the new...
Advisory Boards: An Important Step in Transitioning the Family Business
"I'm wondering if it's time for us to add outside experts to our advisory board," Julie Jacks mused aloud to her cousins. "Experts who would bring fresh ideas...
Family Meetings and the Holidays
Recently, a family I advise came to me looking to plan a family meeting. Inevitably, the question came up: “Well, should we do it at Thanksgiving or at...
Stop for a moment and think about the leaders in your world. Consider friends, family members, teachers, colleagues and business partners. Which of these people...
Five Things Every Horse Owner Should Know
For many, owning a horse is the realization of a lifelong passion. However, it can also increase your risk of financial loss or even lawsuits. Whether you board...
Socially Responsible Investing: What Every Trustee Should Know
Earlier this year, one of my clients came to me with a question about her family’s trust portfolio. She was worried that, despite it going against her own...
What Ultra High Net Worth Family Clients Should Expect of Their Bankers
Families of significant wealth rightfully expect their attorneys, investment professionals and CPAs to be creative, effective advisors. It's time they expect the...